The amending language is not in the form of legislative directive describing a definate [sic] legislative intent, is in places vague and open-ended, and includes a lot of mays rather than musts. Ecology will skip away with an additional 100 million dollars on the premise they will begin the work they were asking for in the original bill. There is still much in the way of mitigation, and rather than the original 350 gallons which turned into 400 gallons of domestic use per family the offer is 950 gallons averaged over a year that is offered to replace your exempt well use with its legal limit of 5000 gallons of water. This new offer of 950 is not guarenteed [sic], but is instead tied to the In Stream Flow Rules, does not seem to be available to Skagit County, and is dependent upon decision making based on the musings of Water Restoration and Enhancement (WRE) plan committees, which still do not include representatives of a property rights organization such as CAPR or even local citizen representatives who are also property owners.

Over all it seems this must have been a grueling negotiation session to produce this product, but sadly, it is still constitutionally and legally substandard. CAPR recommends civil, polite phone calls and emails to your representatives which will offer your opinion on the amended bill.

The citizens of this state were promised a fight, and it is suspected that many and most will reject this amended bill as does CAPR.